US declines comment on Hariri’s status in Saudi Arabia

New York

The United States has declined to comment on the status of Lebanon’s former prime minister who suddenly announced his resignation from the Saudi capital last week and has yet to return to Beirut.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a press briefing on Thursday that Chris Henzel, the US charge d’affaires in Riyadh, met Saad Hariri on Wednesday, but refused to comment on where the meeting took place or to elaborate on Hariri’s status.

“We have seen him. In terms of the conditions of him being held or the conversations between Saudi Arabia and Prime Minister Hariri, I would have to refer you to the government of Saudi Arabia and also to Mr Hariri’s office.”

When asked by reporters whether the US has a comment regarding the resignation of Hariri, Nauert said it was an “internal matter that we couldn’t comment on”.